Wolves suffered their 10th defeat of the Premier League season on Monday night after losing 2-1 against West Ham.
Gary O’Neil was expected to be relieved of his duties post-game, but remarkably, the 41-year-old remains in the dugout at Molineux.
Wolves are supportive of O’Neil, despite them sitting four points from safety in 19th position, and it remains to be seen when the trigger gets pulled.
As it stands, O’Neil could remain in charge against Ipswich Town in a match which would surely end his spell in charge if the Old Gold were to lose it.
In their defeat to the Hammers, meanwhile, Jamie Carragher criticised one area the manager has failed to fix this term.
Wolves have the worst record at defending set-pieces in Europe
Wolves supporters have experienced some horrible defending this term, from unforced errors to lapses in concentration, calamities at the back have resulted in their downfall.
On Monday night, one of their massive problems was exposed, as the visitors conceded from a corner with Tomas Soucek rising highest to head beyond Sam Johnstone.
It was the 15th goal they’ve shipped from a dead ball situation in 2024/25, handing Wolves the worst set-piece record in Europe.
Analysing the game for Sky Sports, Carragher highlighted it as a ‘massive problem’ and claimed how no other team in Premier League history has conceded this many by December previously.
“Another set piece. They have a huge problem with them,” Carragher said. “To concede 15 at this stage of the season, it’s never happened in the Premier League before that someone has conceded 15 set-piece goals by this stage of the season.”
When asked about his sides defending from set-pieces after the game, O’Neil dropped a worrying verdict on Santi Bueno, claiming he isn’t physical enough in those crucial aerial duels.
It comes after O’Neil criticised Fosun’s transfer strategy at Wolves, as they’re mostly to blame for the Old Gold not having capable defenders physically following the departure of Max Kilman.
Wolves set-piece record could result in relegation
Failure to fix their inability to stay switched on from a dead ball could spell danger in their fight for survival.
As highlighted by BBC Sport, only twice before have they conceded more of such goals in the Premier League – in 2003-04 (20) and 2011-12 (18).
| Wolves set-piece goals conceded |
| 2003/04 – 20 |
| 2011/12 – 18 |
| 2024/25 – 15 |
Most Wolves fans will remember that those previous campaigns ended in relegation, and if they aren’t careful this term, the Wanderers will suffer the same fate.